SB1636 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10856 LNS 20938 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1636

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Adriane Johnson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/27-22	from Ch. 122, par. 27-22
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, school boards to report specified data to the State Board of Education regarding computer science courses in schools maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8. Requires the State Board to make the data publicly available. In provisions concerning required high school courses, provides that a computer science course (rather than an Advanced Placement computer science course) qualifies under the mathematics requirement. Requires each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2027-2028 school year to successfully complete one year of high school computer science as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of certain other high school graduation requirements. Requires the State Board to create guidelines for school districts. Provides that the computer science course requirement does not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year. Allows a school to enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course. Makes other and conforming changes.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 10-20.88 and 34-18.88 and by changing Section 27-22 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new)

Sec. 10-20.88. Computer science course reporting.

(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades kindergarten through 8 shall report, for each school maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 5, the following data to the State Board of Education:

(1) the computer science content offered in those grades, including the minutes of instruction time dedicated to computer science, descriptions of instructional content, and, if available, which State learning standards for computer science are covered in the instruction; and

(2) the students receiving computer science instruction in those grades and the grade level, gender, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, disability and individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status of those students.

(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades kindergarten through 8 shall report, for each school maintaining any of grades 6 through 8, the following data to the State Board of Education:

(1) the computer science courses or content offered in those grades, including the course codes, if any, descriptions, and, if available, which State learning standards for computer science are covered in each course; and

(2) the students in those grades enrolled in computer science courses and the grade level, gender, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, disability and individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status of those students.

(c) The State Board of Education shall disaggregate the data collected under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) and paragraph (2) of subsection (b) by grade level, gender, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, disability and individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status and make the data available publicly, along with the data collected under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and paragraph (1) of subsection (b).

(105 ILCS 5/27-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)

Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.

(a) (Blank).

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(d) (Blank).

(e) Through the 2023-2024 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete all of the following courses:

(1) Four years of language arts.

(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of which must be English and the other of which may be English or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and one of which may be a an Advanced Placement computer science course. A mathematics course that includes geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied, interdisciplinary, or career and technical education course that prepares a student for a career readiness path.

(3.5) For pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 school year, one year of a course that includes intensive instruction in computer literacy, which may be English, social studies, or any other subject and which may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(4) Two years of science.

(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one year must be history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year and each school year thereafter, at least one semester must be civics, which shall help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course content shall focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process. School districts may utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering civics education. Beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year, one semester, or part of one semester, may include a financial literacy course.

(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech course used to satisfy the course requirement under subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course requirement under this subdivision (6).

(e-5) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete all of the following courses:

(1) Four years of language arts.

(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of which must be English and the other of which may be English or any other subject. If applicable, writing-intensive courses may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and one of which may be a an Advanced Placement computer science course. A mathematics course that includes geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied, interdisciplinary, or career and technical education course that prepares a student for a career readiness path.

(3.5) One year of a course that includes intensive instruction in computer literacy, which may be English, social studies, or any other subject and which may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(4) Two years of laboratory science.

(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one year must be history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government and at least one semester must be civics, which shall help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course content shall focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process. School districts may utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering civics education. One semester, or part of one semester, may include a financial literacy course.

(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech course used to satisfy the course requirement under subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course requirement under this subdivision (6).

(e-10) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, which may include American Sign Language. A pupil may choose a third year of foreign language to satisfy the requirement under subdivision (6) of subsection (e-5).

(e-15) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must successfully complete one year of high school computer science, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of either (i) one year of the foreign language requirement under subsection (e-10), (ii) the third year of mathematics requirement under subdivision (3) of subsection (e-5), or (iii) the requirement under subdivision (6) of subsection (e-5). A computer science course counted toward the fulfillment of a requirement under item (i), (ii), or (iii) of this subsection (e-15) may also be used to fulfill the computer literacy requirement under subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e-5).

(1) The State Board of Education shall create guidelines for school districts regarding which computer science courses can fulfill a requirement under item (i) or (ii) of this subsection (e-15) that maximizes flexibility for students.

(2) If a student uses a computer science course to fulfill the foreign language requirement under item (i) of this subsection (e-15), then the school board must designate that computer science course as equivalent to a high school foreign language course and must denote on the student's transcript that the computer science course qualifies as a foreign language course for students under item (i) of this subsection (e-15) for the purpose of admission to an institution of higher education in this State.

(3) If a student uses a computer science course to fulfill the mathematics requirement under item (ii) of this subsection (e-15), then the school board must designate that computer science course as equivalent to a high school mathematics course and must denote on the student's transcript that the computer science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e-5).

(4) By June 30, 2026, the State Board of Education shall update its existing list of course titles recommended for computer science under Section 2-3.185 with a list of courses that can be used to satisfy the requirements of this subsection (e-15); however, each school district shall ensure that such courses align with the State learning standards for computer science and the State Board shall include on the list only courses that meet the definition of computer science under Section 10-17a. The State Board shall update its list of qualifying courses as needed to reflect changing State and regional economic and educational needs.

(5) The requirements of this subsection (e-15) do not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year.

(6) A school may enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course under this subsection (e-15).

(f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform school districts of standards for writing-intensive coursework.

(f-5) If a school district offers a an Advanced Placement computer science course to high school students, then the school board must designate that course as equivalent to a high school mathematics course and must denote on the student's transcript that the Advanced Placement computer science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of this Section.

(g) Public Act 83-1082 does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior school years or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

Public Act 94-676 does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

Subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

Subsection (e-5) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2023-2024 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-10) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-15) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2026-2027 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

(h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the provisions of Sections 14A-32 and 27-22.05 of this Code and the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.

(i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-366, eff. 8-13-21; 102-551, eff. 1-1-22; 102-864, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-743, eff. 8-2-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new)

Sec. 34-18.88. Computer science course reporting.

(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the board shall report, for each school maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 5, the following data to the State Board of Education:

(1) the computer science content offered in those grades, including the minutes of instruction time dedicated to computer science, descriptions of instructional content, and, if available, which State learning standards for computer science are covered in the instruction; and

(2) the students receiving computer science instruction in those grades and the grade level, gender, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, disability and individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status of those students.

(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the board shall report, for each school maintaining any of grades 6 through 8, the following data to the State Board of Education:

(1) the computer science courses or content offered in those grades, including the course codes, if any, descriptions, and, if available, which State learning standards for computer science are covered in each course; and

(2) the students enrolled in computer science courses in those grades and the grade level, gender, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, disability and individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status of those students.

(c) The State Board of Education shall disaggregate the data collected under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) and paragraph (2) of subsection (b) by grade level, gender, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, disability and individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status and make the data available publicly, along with the data collected under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and paragraph (1) of subsection (b).